Slipping on senior day

The results of Minot State’s senior day doubleheader matched the weather Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium.

First, the Beavers’ chances at snagging one of the top six seeds in next week’s Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament crumbled when Wayne State dealt MSU ace Mindy Lorimor her third straight loss, a 5-1 defeat.

Then, the fourth-place Wildcats stymied MSU’s comeback attempt in the nightcap by posting four insurance runs – both off two-run homers – in the fifth inning as the Beavers fell 8-3.

Had the Beavers (28-18 overall, 15-13 NSIC) swept Wayne State, they would have edged Minnesota Duluth by .032 in win percentage for the No. 6 seed in the 10-team NSIC tournament. The top six seeds receive first-round byes.

Instead, MSU garnered the eighth seed and will play ninth-seeded Upper Iowa (20-26, 13-13) in the opening round at 10 a.m. Thursday in Sioux Falls, S.D. The winner will face top-seeded Minnesota State-Mankato at 2 p.m., while the loser moves to the loser-out bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

MSU entered the weekend in sixth place, and a half-game out of fifth. But sweeps on consecutive days – the first to No. 13 Augustana – bumped the Beavers down two spots.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted. But everybody is 0-0 right now. There’s six teams staying home and we’re not one of those six,” said MSU coach Bill Triplett, alluding to the NSIC’s bottom six teams which failed to qualify for the postseason.

Although receiving a first-round bye was a goal for MSU, Triplett said missing out on that chance didn’t ruin the weekend, which honored the Beavers’ four seniors – twins Stacy and Emily Fournier, Backes and Dixon – who helped guide the program from NAIA to Division II

“It’s been a crazy ride that’s gone very fast,” Backes said. “… It’s been a great transition. It’s crazy how much the program’s changed from when I got here and it’ll keep getting better.”

Ryan Holmgren covers Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @ryanholmgren.